A promising new scoring system to detect and predict delirium in the acute clinical setting.

Patients admitted to a teaching hospital over two 8-week periods were screened for delirium on arrival and thereafter until the end of care in the hospital. a total of 308 patients > 65 years were admitted during the 4-month period. all patients had a validated cognitive screen using the Confusion assessment method and mini-mental state examination or abbreviated mental Tests. delirium was diagnosed according to dsm iv criteria and was classified as incident delirium (on admission) or prevalent delirium (onset after 48 hrs of admission). Preadmission data on comorbidities, data on nutrition, pressure sore risk, incontinence, falls, constipation, sleep deprivation, length of stay and care needs on discharge were recorded.